You May Already Hate Polyester, But It's Even Worse For The Environment And Human Health Than You Know

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Polyester, the “miracle fabric”, was invented in Britain in the 1940s as a new synthetic fabric that followed the popularity of nylon in the 1930s. Thanks to its durability, economy and ease of production, it has come to dominate the global garment industry, and by 2023, 71.1m tonnes of polyester were produced around the world – 57% of global textile production. “Polyester is, in fact, the most-used synthetic fabric globally,” said Dr Melis Duyar, an associate professor in chemical and process engineering at the University of Surrey. “Since there is no need to grow the fibres needed to make this fabric, it can be made cheaply and quickly in vast quantities, which is why it has become the fabric of choice for the fast fashion industry.”

But in common with other petroleum-derived plastics, polyester is not biodegradable. “Washing causes each item of clothing to shed tiny strands, or microfibres, which are carried down the drain and into our water systems,” Duyar said. “Microplastics are particularly hard to remove from the environment and are easily ingested by organisms across the food chain.” The infiltration of these microfibres into the biosphere is now well known – these insidious chemical pollutants have been detected from the Mariana Trench to the peak of Mount Everest, and in almost every organ of the human body. Researchers have estimated that synthetic textiles are responsible for 35% of the microplastics in the planet’s oceans. But the long-term effects of them remain uncertain.

At home, using a Plymouth University study which estimated that between 700 and 4,000 microplastic fibres are released per gram in a single wash, Hugo calculated that just a year’s worth of washing and everyday wear of the uniforms worn by the 125 boys in his year would shed 6.4bn plastic microfibres.

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Another endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), is used in the textile industry in polyester-based clothing to improve the lifespan of fabrics, to add moisture-wicking or anti-static properties, or to fix dyes. Researchers and campaigners have found high levels of it in sportswear, or in the recycled polyester that is sometimes used in ‘eco-friendly’ school uniform items. This chemical has been banned for use in food contact materials by the EU, although the US continues to judge it safe. Manufacturers are also coating children’s clothes in even more chemicals once they are made. “We see in a lot of childrenswear especially, that we put a lot more into it than we would potentially on other products,” said David Megson, a reader in chemistry and environmental forensics at Manchester Metropolitan University. “[In] trying to make it stain resistant, trying to make it water resistant, trying to make it flame retardant … we get a lot of additives that are added within that process.”

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/06/what-is-in-childrens-school-uniforms